Benefits for Homeowners

Stay informed on energy-efficient construction.

Homes that participate in the Massachusetts Residential New Construction Program are designed to use less energy than those built to local building codes. All homes that participate in the program are encouraged to seek ENERGY STAR® qualification.

Added Confidence

Home buying is complex enough without having to know all the details of energy-efficient construction. The Massachusetts Residential New Construction Program makes it easy for homeowners to identify homes that are truly energy efficient. Find the home of your dreams and enjoy peace of mind knowing that it also meets strict energy efficiency guidelines.

Lower Ownership Cost

The homes that were built through the Program in 2010 will save more than 1.6 million kWh and 28.440 MMBtu each year. The homeowners living in these homes will benefit from lower energy usage than homes that were built to code.

According to ENERGY STAR®, ENERGY STAR® qualified homes use substantially less energy for heating, cooling, and water heating-delivering $200 to $400 in annual savings. Over the average 7 to 8 years you may live in your home, this adds up to thousands of dollars saved on utility bills. Additional savings on maintenance can also be substantial. Financing your home purchase using an energy efficient mortgage can also lead to savings.

Smart Investment

Each year hundreds of builders partner with the Massachusetts Residential New Construction Program program to build several thousand housing units. To date, more than 8,500 home builders have also partnered with EPA to construct more than 1.1 million ENERGY STAR® qualified homes. Whether you choose to participate in the Massachusetts Residential New Construction Program and/or choose a home that meets ENERGY STAR® qualifications, you can be confident that it will have an increasingly valued feature when the time comes to sell.

Environmental Protection

Did you know that your home can be a greater source of pollution than your car? In fact, 16 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are generated from the energy used in homes nationwide.

Energy used in our homes often comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants, which contributes to global warming. Simply put, the less energy we use in our homes, the less air pollution we generate.